Canada

Coroner reveal identities of 10 Toronto van attack victims

Other sources have identified some of the dead, who range in age from their 20s to their 90s
Van strikes as many as 10 pedestrians at Yonge and Finch
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: Van strikes as many as 10 pedestrians at Yonge and Finch (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Live video conference scheduled for 3 PM ET

TORONTO — The identities of the ten people killed in a horrific van attack in Toronto this week will be released at a news conference Friday afternoon, according to Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner.

Authorities have so far not named any of those who died in Monday’s incident, saying that identifying the victims would take time given the size of the crime scene and the scope of the probe.

Butother sources have identified some of the dead, who range in age from their 20s to their 90s and hailed from as far away as Jordan and South Korea.

WATCH: Dash cam video reveals new details about the route the van attack driver took

Coroner’s office spokeswoman Cheryl Mahyr said the identities of those who died would be released at a news conference Friday where police are also expected to provide an update on their investigation into the incident.

“The coroner made a commitment to release the names all at the same time,” Mahyr said.

Fourteen people were also injured in Monday’s incident, in which a van mounted a sidewalk along the city’s bustling Yonge Street and ran into pedestrians in its path.

Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, Ont., faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident. Police have said a 14th attempted murder charge is pending.

The latest victim to be identified is University of Toronto student Sohe Chung, whose death was confirmed by her high school’s alumni association.

Loretto Alumnae Association president Maureen Harquail said Chung was a graduate of Loretto Abbey, an all girls Catholic high school in northern Toronto.

Another previously identified victim of the van attack, Anne Marie D’Amico, was also an alum, Harquail said.

“This was a tragic and senseless event that resulted in the loss of two bright, young Loretto Abbey graduates,” she said. “We mourn their passing and will remember the impact that they had on us and on our community.”

Other victims include Chulmin (Eddie) Kang, a chef at a downtown Toronto steakhouse; Renuka Amarasingha, a Toronto school board employee who was the sole caregiver for her seven-year-old child, and Betty Forsyth, believed to be in her 90s, who was described as a lively person who loved to feed animals on her walks through the neighbourhood around the scene of the attack.

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The victims also include Jordanian citizen Munir Alnajjar, who had recently travelled to the city to visit his son; D’Amico, an investment company worker with a love of volunteering; and Dorothy Sewell, an 80-year-old grandmother who was passionate about local sports.

Two unidentified Korean nationals and an unnamed student from Seneca College were also killed.

A makeshift memorial paying tribute to those who lost their lives has been set up near the scene of the attack, with a growing number of candles, flowers and messages written in different languages.

A vigil is planned at a nearby square for Sunday at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, a fund set up to help those affected by the attack has surpassed $1 million.

The city said contributions to the Toronto Strong Fund are made up of personal and corporate donations.

“The horrific events of April 23 have shown the world how Toronto responds to tragedy,” Mayor John Tory said in the statement. “We are united in grief and the desire to support those affected by Monday’s attack.”

—Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press

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